GORE A. AND P. SOCIETY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3265, 11 October 1916, Page 9

GORE A. AND P. SOCIETY.

At a meeting of the Gore Agricultural and Pastoral Society on the 30th ult. Mr J. M'Culloch (fields supervisor under tho Agricultural Department) attended with a view to discussing the matter of establishing experimental plots in tho district. Mr M'Culloch stated that the Government supplied the seed and farmers supplied thG ground and labour. . Tho idea of the department was to concentrate the. work on a certain p-'isce of land and on a defined system. Ine department had as many as 6000 field plots in various parts of the South Island under the supervision of four field officers, and it felt that the time had arrived when it should have the use of a small area of land upon which to experi-

I ment o_yer a period of years. The depart- | ment would finance the work and labour involved, including seeds., manures, and lime. Proper accounts would be kept of the method of treatment in labour, lime, rotation, etc., and the results carefully noted. For this purpose an a'rea of 10 or 15 acres, preferably the latter, or even 20 acres, for, j say, scveja years would be necessary. The | land should be typical, and such that would

respond to chemical treatment. It should also be near a centre where farmers were likely to congregate and near a main road. It, should also be located in such a place that High School boys could reach it for practical study. The Government had appealed to county councils and local bodies to assist in the matter. What the department desired was the co-operation of committees to assist in regard to advice, etc. On the motion of Mr A. Aitkcn, seconded by Mr li. Smith, it was decided that a committee bo set up to investigate and bring up a report to a special meeting of farmers on the 14th inst.